Monday, March 20, 2023

Mentor senior Ryan Kanetsky tosses 3-hitter in road win at Riverside

Mentor coach Jeff Haase has repeatedly called his team “scrappy,” and he knows well that not every game is going to be pretty.

Haase got a beautiful start from a senior right-hander and a scrappy effort from his offense in Game No. 2 to remain unbeaten on the season.

Ryan Kanetsky threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout to lead Mentor to a 3-0 victory over host Riverside on April 6.

The Cardinals improved to 2-0 on the season with a challenging week ahead that – weather permitting – includes a home-and-home against Strongsville, Mayfield and four games in a weekend tournament at Baldwin Wallace.

“Ryan got ahead of hitters and threw one ground ball after another and it was really a great outing,” Haase said. “We kind of stopped hitting after the first two innings and we got a little lethargic, but we were scrappy. I have said it is going to take 1 through 18 on this team to get it done and today was an example of a team win.

“Every day we set a goal to get the next ‘W’. We accomplished that, maybe not the greatest manner today, but hats off to Riverside for playing well – they have a great ballclub … Where we will see where are at this week.”

Mentor jumped on top, 1-0, in the top of the first inning and added a run in the second to give Kanetsky all he needed.

“I really had the two-seam working and I hit my spots, which was key because I am not going to overpower people with my fastball,” Kanetsky said. “I think it was huge to get the lead, get that cushion and we got a big defensive effort today. I trust these guys.

“I think it is huge to start 2-0 and all the hard work is paying off.”

Cardinals sophomore Nathan Birtley had a pair of hits and scored two runs. Ricky Valeri had two hits in the win for Mentor.  

Steve Harehttp://www.ohiovarsity.com
Steve Hare is the Chagrin Valley Conference's Sports Information Director. He also created and publishes OhioVarsity.com, an online publication dedicated to providing hyperlocal coverage to area high school athletic programs. Hare began covering high school sports for the Lake County News Herald in 1997. Hare attended Willoughby South High School through the middle of his senior year, then graduated from Berkshire High School in Burton in 1986. He played football, wrestled and was an all-Geauga county baseball player (1986). He lives in Chardon with his wife Paulette and their children.

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